Arch supporting wedge



June 16, 1936. H. WAGNER ARCH SUPPORTING WEDGE Filed June 19, 1953 wa INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented June i6, i936 hiirili@ Sieg 4 Claims.

The invention relates to an arch support which is adapted to be used as an integral or attached part oi a shoe pad, or to be built into the shoe construction, to properly support the foot.

Among the objects of the invention are: To provide a wedge which will distribute the weight toward the outer border of the foot, distributing it mainly on the three points constituted by the heel and the rst and fth metatarsal phalangeal joints. According to another feature of the invention the wedge is so shaped as to form depressions adapted to receive the metatarsal phalangeal joints of the rst, third, fourth and fifth toes. According to another feature of the invention a pad when used in conjunction with the wedge is so formed as to underlie the foot substantially completely from the rear of the heel to the rst phalangeal articulations, thereby tending to relieve the formation of callouses at the ball of the foot. As another feature of the invention the wedge and also the pad as used in conjunction therewith, are preferably formed of pressed cork.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specically pointed out in the description hereinafter contained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, discloses a Wedge constructed in accordance with the invention and formed as an integral part oi a pad, the particular pad shown being for the left foot. In the drawing- Fig. l. is a bottom plan View of the pad bearing the Wedge and- Figs. 2 to S are sections taken respectively on unes 2 2 to s s of rig. 1.

The outline of the arch supporting Wedge is shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 and appears above the dotted lines in the remaining figures, although it will be understood that when the Wedge is used as part of a pad, as shown in the drawing, the position in use may be inverted from the one shown in the drawing.

As shown more particularly in Figs. l, 2 and 3 the thickest portion of the wedge is positioned at a point adapted to underlie approximately the anterior necks of the metatarsal bones, the thickness being greatest at a point underneath the second metatarsal bone and decreasing laterally in thickness, as indicated (Fig. 3) by numerals 2 and 3, to side edges of the wedge. The Wedge projects forwardly of the portion l above described and tapers gradually in width and thickness, as indicated by numeral i in Figs. l and 2, about to a point adapted to underlie the rst phalangeal bone ci the second toe. This forms (Si. Sti- 71) what may be termed depressions on opposite sides oi the forwardly extending portion d of the Wedge, which are adapted to receive the metatarsal phalangeal joints oi the rst, third, fourth and fifth toes.

Rearwardly of the portion above described, the Wedge tapers gradually in thickness and width back to a point 5 (Figs. l and 2) on the inner side of the foot which is slightly anterior to the Weightbearing tuberosity of the os calcis. This shape of pad throws the weight toward the outer border of the foot and distributes it primarily between the three points, the heel and the rst and fifth metatarsal phalangeal-articulations As shown in Fig. 4 the thickest portion ii of the Wedge diminishes in thickness toward the opposite side edges of the wedge along the lines l and t. AS shown in Fig. 5 the thickest portion 9 of the cross section diminishes in thickness along the lines H] and i l to the side edges of the wedge. As shown in Fig. 6 the thickest portion i2 diminishes in thickness toward the side edges of the Wedge along the lines i3 and Mi. The same is true in Fig. 7 Where the thickest portion is indicated by numeral l5 and the lateral portions of diminishing thickness by the numerals it and ll.

The illustrated form of supporting Wedge is made integral with a pad i8 which is shaped substantially to the bottom of the foot and preferably extends from the heel portion forwardly to a point underlying the proximal phalangealphalangeal articulations, and I prefer to construct the members ci cork, usually in pressed form, which renders both the Wedge and the pad flexible and resilient, and also alords very good insulating qualities tending to maintain in the shoe the blood temperature of the foot. It should be understood however that the wedge above described may be separately constructed, and separately used or thereafter secured to the pad I8, or built into the shoe construction.

It will be noted that the longitudinal central line of the wedge runs somewhat obliquely in order to place it in proper position for securing the results above referred to.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described it should be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from its essentials, Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An arch supporting Wedge having its thickest portion adapted to underlie approximately the anterior neck of the second metatarsal bone, said Wedge having a portion extending forwardly from said above mentioned portion, and tapering in width and thickness down to a point adapted to underlie approximately only the proximal phalangeal bone of the second toe.

2. An arch supporting wedge having its thickest portion adapted to underlie approximately the anterior neck of the second metatarsal bone, said wedge having a portion extending forwardly from said above mentioned portion and tapering in width and thickness down to a point adapted to underlie approximately the proximal phalangeal bone of the second toe, said wedge also having a rearwardly extending portion tapering in width and thickness to a point adapted to underlie the inner side of the foot at a point anterior to the tuberosity of the os calcis.

3. An arch supporting wedge having its thickest portion adapted to underlie approximately the anterior neck of the second metatarsal bone, said Wedge having a portion extending forwardly from said above mentioned portion, and tapering in Width and thickness down to a point adapted to underlie approximately only the proximal phalangeal bone of the second toe, said Wedge being combined with a flexible pad extending substantially the full distance from the back of the heel to the proximal phalangeal-phalangeal articulations.

4. An arch supporting wedge having its thickest portion adapted to underlie approximately the anterior neck of the second metatarsal bone, said wedge having a portion extending forwardly from said above mentioned portion and tapering in width and thickness down to a point adapted to underlie approximately the proximal phalangeal bone of the second toe, said wedge also having a rearwardly extending portion tapering in width and thickness to a point adapted to underlie the inner side of the foot at a point anterior to the tuberosity of the os calcis, said wedge being combined with a flexible pad extending substantially the full distance from the back of the heel to the proximal phalageal-phalangeal articulations.

HARRY WAGNER. 

